Posted on: Tuesday November 6, 2012
By Dr. Graham Young, Curator Emeritus of Geology and Paleontology
The past week we have been very busy installing our temporary exhibit on molluscs (The World is Their Oyster: Marvellous Molluscs), which will open in a few days. While thinking about this exhibit process, I remembered that there are some splendid photos of the installation of our mineral exhibit, courtesy of our designer, Stephanie Whitehouse. So as a follow-up to the post about that exhibit a few months back, here are a few images of the complicated process of assembling specimens and cases!
With the front glass ready to install, Bert Valentin does some final work inside the big case.
Janis Klapecki aligns one of the pyrite specimens from the Snow Lake area.
The amethyst, with a weight of about one-half tonne, was somewhat problematic to install! Using the loading dock hoist, it had been placed on a purpose-built steel platform. Now, Marc Hebert and Bob Peacock make sure it stays straight, while Bert Valentin cranks the modified engine hoist that will lift it to case level. The rest of us serve as ballast on the hoist.
The raised amethyst is gently lowered into place in the case. VERY gently.
I vacuum the amethyst before the case is moved into place. Hans Thater holds a light so that every bit of lint can be seen.
Marc and Bert connect the lighting power, while Bob waits to roll the amethyst case into final position.
